Watch this trophy truck attempt a land speed record

In the world of racing (regardless of what level we're talking about), drivers are always determined and looking for more speed. Jay Reichert of R&D Motorsports proved both to be true as he looked to set a land speed record last year in his Ford F-150 SVT Raptor trophy truck. Though an official Guinness World Record approval is still pending, Reichert is currently claiming the speed record for an unmodified (in full race configuration) trophy truck at 136 mph—10 mph faster than the previous record.

Reichert said that these trucks are generally geared to run at about 90 mph, but it's the tires that have proven to be a limiting factor for trophy truck top speeds, as they tend to "let go" at around 135 mph. Even after working with BF Goodrich to get more speed from the tires, though, the record seemed doomed when the team found the dry Mexican lake bed covered in a thick layer of mud upon arrival. But since he trucked all his equipment and crew to the site, he ended up doing the run on a nearby two-track road, which proved to be a limiting factor for top speed. His initial goal was to hit somewhere around 144, but conditions weren't favorable. The 136 top speed was attained just 50 yards ahead of a sharp 30-degree turn, where he "just ran out of real estate."

Watching the video, there are a few times—especially around the 2:04 mark—where the truck gets a little squirrely, and Reichert says it's the 120- to 125-mph speed where the truck "gets light and upset" due to aerodynamics. The process for GWR certification takes about five to six months, so he is hoping to brag about an official record soon. Reichert doesn't expect his record to go unchallenged for long; he said rival Robby Gordon is already looking to throw down the gauntlet with a speed record of his own.

A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Road & Track participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.